Leopard Bait

by
posted on May 27, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gunclub2015_fs.jpg (15)

undefinedSunday afternoon, after arriving at Panorama, PH Jamy Traut's base camp in central Namibia, we took off to look for leopard tracks. As luck would have it, we found a set just down the dry, dusty road from our tents. Jamy and his two trackers, Harold and Peter, agreed the tracks were from the previous night. They looked good size to me, but Jamy knew of the whereabouts of another cat, farther east in a line of low mountains, which he said was much larger.

It wasn't long before Harold picked up the tracks of the leopard at the new location. Time to set up shop on this big boy. As daylight faded, Harold and Peter hung a zebra hindquarter from a tree by wiring it to the trunk. Jamy prefers zebra for leopard bait, because, he says, "Once they get a taste of that good yellow fat, they can't resist. They'll keep coming back."

Surprisingly, the trackers hung the bait low, only about 3 feet above the ground. Jamy said the purpose of this bait is to serve as an attractant, for both leopard and other predators like hyena, which will in turn draw the attention of a cat. Once the leopard starts feeding on the hunk of zebra, we'll move it to a proper bait tree nearby that will afford a good blind setup.

Another PH is also hanging baits in the rock-covered mountains to the west of Panorama. The more baits hung, the better the chance of a leopard finding one.

Today our plan is to shoot some plains game and use the innards as another attractant. We'll drag them around the tree in which the bait is hanging to spread scent throughout the area. Lots of dead animal scent in the air will improve the chances of the leopard finding the tree. Baiting leopard is quite a process.

Latest

Herman Shooting BMR X
Herman Shooting BMR X

#SundayGunday: Bergara BMR-X Steel

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re taking a look at a precision rimfire rifle from Bergara, the BMR-X Steel. Available in 22LR, .22 Win. Mag., and 17 HMR, this handy little bolt-action sure to pile up the small-game, and with the cost of rimfire ammo being a fraction of centerfire ammo, it’ll provide plenty of fun plinking practice in the off-season.

IHEA-USA Announces New Hunter Rewards Program and Investigation Instructor Academy

The International Hunter Education Association–USA (IHEA-USA), in partnership with Guidefitter, has launched PathPerks, a reward and recognition program designed for new hunter education graduates.

Remington Announces 4th Annual Shoot to Cure Fundraiser

Remington Ammunition will be hosting its 4th Annual Shoot to Cure sporting clays fundraiser on September 19, 2025.

Recipe: Venison Crostini with Smoky Berry-Spice Chimichurri

This venison crostini is more than a recipe, it’s a celebration of the hunt and the flavors it provides. Read on for how to make one all your own.

New for 2025: Browning Defender Vision Pro Livestream

The Defender Vision Pro Livestream from Browning Trail Cameras puts hunters in the middle of the action as it happens via the Strike Force Wireless app.

Hardware Review: Smith & Wesson 1854 Stealth Hunter

A modern cowboy ought to have a modern lever-action rifle. That’s one reason Senior Executive Editor Jon Draper was so excited to get his hands on the latest lever gun from Smith and Wesson, the 1854 Stealth Hunter. Read on for his thorough review.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.